The purpose of my blog is to empower those who identify as female in a world dominated by men. I want to post about what’s going on in the entertainment industry and help my readers keep up with all things entertainment. My target audience is individuals who identify as female. I provide value to my target audience by making posts that relate to what’s going on in today’s world regarding females. My posts make it easier for people to follow along on entertainment news.

I am an aspiring TV writer, so I wanted to reach out to a writer working in the industry right now to ask a few questions. Wendy Straker Hauser was kind enough to answer a few questions for me.

Wendy has been a writer on The Client List and Beauty and the Beast, and she is currently writing for The Handmaid’s Tale and The Bold Type. Her answers will hopefully help many people who are trying to break into the industry.

1. How did you get started in the business?

I actually wrote a book before I got my first piece published anywhere. The book was called sexy jobs in the city: how to find your dream job using the rules of dating. I wrote it because I was lost and single and I didn’t know how the sexy glamor jobs worked. That book landed me a workplace column in the NY Post. Which launched my journalism career. Ten years later I moved to LA to break into TV. I took a class and taught myself to write a script. My first break was as a staff writer on the client list on lifetime

2. What prepared you most for what you do today?

Understanding people. Being aware of emotions personalities, what drives people, what scares people.

3. What is your advice for a writer starting out today?

Be yourself. You bring your own story. Own that story. It is everything

4. Do you write most of your scripts alone or is it more of a group process?

I prefer being on staff. I’m a mom and motherhood makes multi tasking at home difficult. When I’m at the office I feel separate, in a good way. It helps.

5. Do writing assistant internships exist?

Maybe script coverage. I’m not sure. I don’t think so. I think perhaps research. But I’d have to check if that is legal.

6. Do you have any suggestions or tips for someone trying to break into the industry?

Check if management companies have interns, also agencies, production companies, etc. Ask yourself what shows you like, see who produces them and call and see if they hire interns!

In my previous post, I discussed sexual assault in our society. I gave the statistics, facts, and cold, hard truth about how often it happens and to how many people. In this post, I’m going to explain how you can avoid raping someone in different scenarios. Sexual assault in the public eye is more prevalent than it ever has been. Every day there’s a new headline about an actor or producer who performed an inappropriate act with a person in an inferior position. I’m here to help prevent anyone else from committing these same crimes. Follow my simple step-by-step instructions, and you’ll be well on your way to safe, consensual sex!

You’re at a bar, and you are really hitting it off with a girl. Drinks are flowing, you might even kiss a little. You want to take this girl home so badly. You bring her close and ask her if she’d like to spend the night with you. She politely declines, but gives you her phone number for another time. WHAT! You just bought this girl two drinks! You remember that you have a roofie in your pocket, and contemplate putting it in her next drink.

Here’s how you avoid raping her.

Step 1. Do NOT put the roofie in her drink because that would be illegal.

Step 2. Take that roofie and flush it down the toilet because that too is illegal.

Step 3. Respect her wishes to not come home with you.

Step 4. Call her the next day and ask her on a proper date if you are interested.

Step 5. Do not rape her on said date.

Scenario 2

You see a woman dressed in revealing clothing walking to her car at night alone. She is super hot, and you would love to get her in bed. No one else is around but you two. She notices you staring at her. You have the urge to have sex with her right now.

Here’s how you avoid raping her.

Step 1. Stop staring at her because it makes her feel uncomfortable. You should not make people feel that way.

Step 2. Do not walk over to her. It is nighttime, and she already feels threatened by you because of your staring.

Step 3. If you are feeling chivalrous, you can ensure that she gets to her car safely from wherever you are standing. Remember Step 1, though, and do not stare.

Step 4. Do not rape her.

Scenario 3

You’re in bed with a woman, and things are getting hot and heavy. You’ve had a couple of drinks. She suddenly passes out from the alcohol. She doesn’t wake up to your nudging and poking. How could she do this to you? What a tease, right? Wrong!

Here’s how you avoid raping her.

Step 1. Stop whatever you are doing and ensure that she is okay.

Step 2. Put your clothes back on.

Step 3. Do not lay a hand on her.

Step 4. Cover her with a blanket, and tuck her nicely into bed.

Step 5. (Optional) Sleep on the couch.

Step 6. Do not rape her.

And there you have it! Easy steps on how to avoid raping someone with different scenarios included. I hope this was informative. Remember, DON’T RAPE PEOPLE.

According to RAINN (Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network) every 98 seconds, an American is sexually assaulted. On average, there are 321,500 victims of rape and sexual assault each year in the United States. One out of every six American women has been the victim of an attempted or completed rape in her lifetime. 21% of TGQN (transgender, genderqueer, nonconforming) college students have been sexually assaulted.

Not only do people have to suffer in the moment of being sexually assaulted, but they can also have long-term effects. The likelihood that a person suffers suicidal or depressive thoughts increases after sexual violence. People who have been sexually assaulted are more likely to use drugs than the general public.

These statistics alone prove that sexual assault happens too often and to too many innocent people. These numbers aren’t even completely factual, however. A 2000 study from the Bureau of Justice Statistics found that only 28% of victims report their sexual assault to the police. That means 72% of victims don’t report their assault to law enforcement officials. These numbers would be higher if every single person who was ever sexually assaulted reported it. I’m scared to think of how high these numbers would jump.

Why does this continue to happen? What makes people believe they have the right to disregard someone’s consent for their own sexual desire? I think Rape Culture has a lot to do with this issue. Rape Culture is an environment in which sexual violence against women is normalized and/or excused in our society and media.

Women and girls most often have to fear sexual assault while men often do not. According to One In Four, for female rape survivors, 98.1% of the time a man was the perpetrator. For male rape survivors, 93% of the time, a man was the perpetrator. The common factor here is that men rape much more often than women rape.

Does this happen because of the way boys are raised? Is pop culture to blame? Where along the way did someone tell boys it was okay to do whatever they wanted? Now I want to know what you guys think. Why does rape happen? Who, or what, is to blame? Post your answers in the comments.

Have you ever wanted to watch a successful lawyer, who seems to have everything, throw it all away in the pursuit of being reacquainted with her one true love? No? Not your style? Okay, well what if I also told you that there are full musical numbers every episode? Yeah, that’s right. Rachel Bloom, creator and star of Crazy Ex-Girlfriend, is not playing around.

Crazy Ex-Girlfriend follows Rebecca Bunch as she leaves her successful New York City life to chase after the boy she was in love with at sixteen years old. She’s conniving, unstable, and self-destructive; everything you’d want to see in a rom-com gone bad.

This show is smart, hilarious, and relatable. Rebecca Bunch unapologetically says all the crazy shit we’ve ever thought. In some ways, Rebecca is us at our very, very worst. Crazy Ex-Girlfriend also deals with mental health issues in a very peculiar way – Rebecca doesn’t. Many of us probably have personal issues that we like to avoid and put away in a box. Rebecca does this, quite literally, until it comes back and bites her in the ass.

Season 3 has been showing us how detrimental it can be if we avoid our problems. Season 1 and 2 have been building up to this explosive moment where Rebecca goes batshit crazy. It’s fun, entertaining, and laugh out loud funny.

My favorite part of the show is the musical numbers. Bloom has done something quite unique in making a musical dramedy successful. Many shows have tried to do it, but most don’t last more than 2 seasons. Each episode we get a couple of hilarious songs that spoof popular genres. For example, they’ve has sexy songs, Broadway songs, country songs, and boyband songs just to name a few. The list really goes on and on, and I don’t think there’s a genre they’ve left out.

For every lover of rom-coms, musicals, and strong female leads, this show is one you have to start watching.

You can watch the first 2 seasons on Netflix. Season 3 can be found at The CW, and catch new episodes every Friday night at 8/7c on The CW.

It can be hard to pick from the many different Halloween events offered in Chicago. When you have a group of your best friends together, deciding what to do gets even more challenging. Luckily, I have put together a variety of activities and parties happening around the city between this weekend and Halloween on October 31st. The list includes parties, festivals, and movies, as well as events for the 21+ crowd and those unfortunate souls who can’t yet have a legal drink.

Here are the events that everyone can go to:

The Northalsted Halloween Parade

This parade is ranked one of the 10 Best Halloween Celebrations in the US by Fodor’s Travel Guide. This is a great place to party with your whole family. Get a fabulous group costume together, and be judged in their four costume contest categories: Theme, Group, Scariest, and Drag.

When: The parade kicks off at 7:30pm on October 31st. The costume contest follows directly after.

Randolph Street Market Festival

The indoor festival season has begun! Head to the Randolph Street Market to visit over 125+ vendors from all over the Midwest. Pick up some last minute Halloween decorations to make your house or apartment look spook-tacular.

Boos & Booze Halloween Party at SPiN Chicago

Enjoy a 4 Hour Drink Package from 9pm to 1am – includes beer, wine and mixed drinks. There will also be a costume contest, DJs, prizes, and a photo booth. Wait… Am I forgetting something? Oh yeah! Ping Pong!

Titanic Masquerade & Costume Party

Ready to rock the boat this Halloween? Then hop onto the biggest Yacht Party on Lake Michigan: The Spirit of Chicago. Grab your friends, throw on a mask, and get ready for the time of your life with 4 decks, 2 DJs, and 2 floors of music.

Haunted Halloween Ball at the Congress Plaza Hotel

Want an event that sounds a bit more fancy and fun than a bar? Visit a truly haunted hotel this Halloween at the Congress Plaza on Michigan Avenue. Enjoy actors and dancers throughout the night as you dance, drink, and eat.